Faded Memory
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of what could have happened following Rick's discussion with Alexis about the night he danced, fell in love, and lost contact with a girl in college, sometimes memories come back at the worse time. COMPLETELY AU except for the conversation that prompted this and use of some characters names. THIS IS A CASKETT ENDING, EVENTUALLY
I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 12
Previously
"Rick, Dad, First what do you want me to call you? I mean I don't want to overstep here" Allison says shyly
"Whatever you're comfortable Allison, I am fine with anything but Richard," as he rolled his eyes and smiled towards his mother.
"Well, Dad," she seemed hesitant, but she carried forward,
"I'd like to talk to Kate first if I may, just her and I, Kate are you Okay with that?"
Kate smiled pulled the young lady in a hug, whispered "Of Course" as the strode towards a private conference room located a few feet away. The family seemed to take it all in stride, except for Martha, she seemed very nervous, but that could be because she had been up for over 24 hours straight.
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Midtown Loft & Terrace
5th Street New York
Kate and Allison were in a soundproof office space, meant to provide not only security, but also privacy for matters being discussed.
As they made their way the short distance to the Office from the main suite area, Kate noticed how nervous Allison was, almost fearful, and as mature as she was in many worldly ways, Kate thought, she's still barely past being a kid.
"Allison, I want you to ask me anything that is on your mind, but would it help if I gave you a quick overview of how your Dad and I met and fell in love?"
"Kate, you must be reading my mind, what do you do for a profession?"
"Actually Sweetie, I'm a homicide Detective for the 12th Precinct of NYPD. That's how I met, well as far as he knows, how we met. I actually stood in line for over two hours when I was a young beat cop to have him sign my book, God I had such a crush on him forever, but don't tell him, his ego is big enough" and they both laugh.
"Do you know why I want to speak to you first Kate?"
"No, I hope it's because you feel comfortable with me, just know that the manner which we found out may not be the traditional way, BUT no family could love you more than this one."
Allison smiles a shy smile, "You all have made it so much more comfortable than my Mother and Grandpa led me to believe it would be. Don't get me wrong Kate, I loved my mother, and I think in some small way, she probably loved Rick, but not more than herself.
She always had to be in control, and of course getting pregnant requires a Team Sport, not individual. I would ask what My Dad was like, on some days she described him just as he is today, except younger, and her sexual innuendo always had to come up, but she always mentioned how sweet and caring he was. I guess I wanted to find out from the woman who was able to snare him, just what was he like in private.
I'm worried this is going to upset him and believe me that's the last thing I would want to do. I see him as a giving, loving man who loves and hurts deeply, I know Mother hurt him probably worse than anyone else could, but he rebounded, and he has you."
"Are you sure you're only going to be twenty?" Kate asked with a smile. "Your assessment of Rick is totally accurate, although I'm not sure who hurt him worse in the past, Kyra, your Mom or me and some of the stupid walls I had built up. He put up with so much crap from me, till one summer he was just gone, he had enough, no anger no tears, no yelling, just no Rick."
"You see Rick does have his limits, even with Alexis, another lesson we can talk about later, but honey he loves his family more than anything in the world. He would die for anyone of us, but even as patient as he is, he does hit the point of no return, and take it from me, it's not pretty.
He doesn't yell or curse, he just has a way of making you feel so damn guilty, and he's right, and that makes you beat yourself up even more. He loves Alexis, for years she was his only joy, and I'll leave that story for one of the two to tell you, but he can instill the guilt even on her." She smiles,
"Thanks Kate, that's exactly what I was looking for, I really want to thank you for the support. Paula told me how much you have supported Rick in reaching out and establishing a connection, I think she quoted you as "we don't need any DNA, that's my mans daughter, now let's meet her" as tears come to her eyes,
Kate takes two steps and draws the young lady to her, comforting her the way she wished her Mom would have been able to do, at this age.
"Sweetie, you have to know, I lost my Mom at exactly your age, and no matter how tough, you are, or I am, we all need a Mom sometimes. Rick's Mother has been almost like mine when the chips were down, you'd never know it, but she has a big heart and is so giving, just a warning, She's also nosy as Hell." As they both laugh.
"Thanks Kate, that means a lot to me, I really mean it, I loved my Mom, but I could never get close to her. She was a great Mom, financially, materialistically I never wanted for anything, but I never heard, I'm proud of you, or I support your decision, but rather we argued about my choices in life to a point where we both just stopped talking."
"Oh Sweetie, that had to be tough on you, but hey if you need to talk, I'm not as old, but I am Alexis step mother to be, I practically live there now, and I would love to be in your life, in whatever role you want or need me to be."
"Thanks Kate, there's one question, it's personal so don't answer it if it is too close, OK?"
"Girl, we are family now, unless it's about your Dad and my sex life you have a pretty good chance of getting an answer, OK?" Kate smiled at her.
"Well, I know you know, but how do you take it so well, I mean Paula has been terrific to me, better than I could have ever hoped for, but I know she loves Rick. Doesn't that bother you at all? I mean I would be like putting wire traps around him, or setting up explosives, if it were me"
Kate smiled, "Well, Allison, let me tell you about how you know your love is real. All the things you described, well I did those, and I made things worse. Then I realized that I loved Rick more than anything, or anyone in this world, I had to Trust him to love me back, I couldn't control it.
He noticed and asked me where the jealous Kate had gone, I told him that I was still jealous, BUT I trusted HIM. That cemented our relationship that we have built on trust, there have been moments on both side, but we know we love each other, nothing else counts.
You see Sweetie, Paula loves him, just like many others, but she would never hurt him, me, Alexis and now you for anything, she would die first. Martha loves us as well, but sometimes I really think she knows more than she lets on when it comes to Rick's paternity, again not my story to tell."
"Thanks Kate, you've been so open and honest with me, I'd like to be able to call you just to talk, if I can."
Kate takes the young ladies' cell phone, pulls her phone out and dials the number, then hangs up. Allison reached over and brought Kate to tears, she renamed her contact to Mom-Kate, and included a picture of the two of them she had taken earlier.
"Oh, I hope that was OK, Kate, I mean I can change it"
"It's perfect Baby, anything you need me for, I'm here, and I am so sorry you missed out on 20 years of your Dad, he's going to try to make it up so just a heads up, he loves deeply. If you need me to check it a bit, just call OK?" She smiles and is drawn into a hug by Allison,
As they leave the room together, Rick can see Kate dabbing Allison's eyes, to wipe away a tear, to which the young lady, takes a tissue and reciprocates to Kate, then they laugh and walk out hand in hand.
"Thanks for your patience all, Little Sis, you ready to spill the beans about being a Castle Kid", she laughs
"Sure, thing Big Sis, let me grab my water and I'm coming."
Allison notices Kate return to Rick's side, gently kiss him and whisper something in his ear, and pat him on the chest. She then turned and asked Paula if she was doing OK.
Allison and Alexis head to the rooms, just vacated by Kate, as she slips her hand in Rick's,
"Hey you OK Babe? I'm right here, and I will be for you, OK?"
He looked up and smiled "I love you Kate, I really don't think I could get through this without you."
The discussion between Alexis and Allison lasted almost an hour, and laughter could be heard often from the girls, both seem to be totally relaxed and acting like they had known each other their entire life, rather than just a few short hours.
Finally, the two come walking back to the main suite, still smiling. As Alexis went to leave, she pulled her sister into a long hug, and just whispered how glad she was to finally meet her and thanked her for being so brave.
Finally, after a catered lunch, and a relaxing time to just chat informally, it was time for Rick and Allison to hold their private meetings. Kate couldn't help but notice the closer the time came, the more upset, nervous and fidgety Martha became, totally out of character for her.
Rick stopped to give his fiancé a kiss, as she hugged him, he said "stay close OK Babe?"
She whispered her reply of "Always" quietly in his ear and kissed him sweetly as he and Allison headed to the conference room.
Martha couldn't take her eyes off the room, and as the talks progressed, she became even more upset, till finally Rick stood up from the table, turned to look out in the direction of his Mother, with a very hurt look on his face, a look that Kate had never seen before,
Martha uttered the first words she had spoken since early in the morning which scared Kate to death,
"Oh God, he knows now" Martha said tearfully,
"Knows What Martha, are you OK, I mean you haven't been yourself all day,"
Kate noticed Rick glaring at Martha through the glass, as Allison tried to comfort him,
"Martha what does he know?
"He knows that ***
TBC